The mumps
outbreak that started at Ohio State University in February has spread throughout
Franklin County, prompting health officials to stress the importance of vaccination for people who
didn’t receive their childhood immunizations and for young children who are due.

As of yesterday, the outbreak had sickened at least 63 people from 4 to 55 years old, including
18 who live in Franklin County and have no direct ties to Ohio State.

“They’re on the West Side, they’re on the East Side, they’re in the central area. They’re
everywhere,” said Dr. Mysheika Williams Roberts, medical director and assistant health commissioner
of Columbus Public Health.

Of the 45 cases linked to the university, three are confirmed outside Franklin County — one each
in Fairfield, Licking and Hamilton counties. One was a student’s family member, one a commuter
student and the third a staff member, Roberts said.

Seven additional cases outside Franklin County this year have not been linked to the outbreak,
according to the Ohio Department of Health.

The last Ohio mumps outbreak was in 2010, when 18 cases were reported in Lake and Cuyahoga
counties.

Mumps usually passes without severe complications, but it can mean a week off work or school to
recover and limit the spread of the virus.

Protection against it is included in the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shot that is recommended
twice during childhood — once at a child’s first birthday and again at 4 to 6 years of age.

Mumps is rarely seen in the United States because of widespread vaccination that began in 1967.
But cases and outbreaks do pop up and are sometimes found in groups with low immunization
rates.

Almost everyone sickened in this outbreak had been vaccinated, Roberts said. The vaccine against
mumps is 80 to 90 percent effective.

Officials don’t know who started the outbreak, whether that person was vaccinated and whether
those infected had limited protection, Roberts said. Not everyone sickened with mumps seeks medical
attention, and some people have no symptoms but spread the virus.

“Any case of mumps is a concern from a public-health perspective.” said Dr. Mary DiOrio, state
epidemiologist. “This is a great reminder to check your immunization status.”

DiOrio said the spreading beyond Ohio State was expected.

The university is working with the city to provide vaccine to students who were not vaccinated
at all or who never received a booster shot, OSU spokeswoman Liz Cook said.

The school does not require vaccination for admission, a policy that is not under review at this
time, she said. “We do regularly review policies and procedures to make sure that we’re following
the best practices.”

Mumps is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or
talks. Items used by an infected person also can be contaminated. Symptoms include fever, headache,
muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite and swollen and tender salivary glands.

Mumps usually spreads before the salivary glands begin to swell and up to five days after
swelling starts.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that patients stay isolated
for five days after their glands begin to swell. Other steps to stop the spread include covering
your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and frequently washing your hands.